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Friday, November 19, 1999

Board OKs consolidation of junior highs

By ROSIE FLORESStaff WriterPECOS, Nov. 19, 1999 - Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD board members approved
the hiring of architect Monte Hunter for the consolidation of the district's
seventh and eighth grade classes at Crockett Middle School, during a special
meeting Thursday night.

Superintendent Don Love recommended hiring Hunter for the project and
told the board that he felt that since they had worked well with Hunter
before he would be the best candidate.

"I think he's very qualified, probably the most qualified, for the school
project," said Love.

Hunter has worked with the district for the past 10 years and was involved
with solving the asbestos problem the school had a few years ago.

The procurement of construction contracts/services that provides the
best value for the district was discussed at length.

Hunter told the group that there were several options for the construction
contacts/services.

Hunter briefly went over the different ways to procure the construction
contracts/services. "In the construction procurement act you would have
to take the lowest bid and you didn't have any real control over the project,"
he said.

However, due to recent changes approved by the Texas Legislature, school
districts now have different options in obtaining these services.

"This allows for more ways of procuring the contracts and having more
control over the entire project," he said.

Hunter recommended the form of procurement of services be made through
competitive sealed proposals. "It's something new that can be done, and
was just approved during the last legislature," he said.

"He also gave us drawings of two different options on the design," said
Love, who recommended option B for the consolidation plan, which would
put both seventh and eighth grade classes at Crockett Middle School. Currently,
only eighth graders attend Crockett, while seventh graders go to Zavala
Middle School.

The current set-up has been in place since 1987. Before that both schools
had seventh and eighth grade junior high students.

Option B would include a computer lab and a bigger science room that
would accommodate two science classes. In addition to the two Options for
the classroom additions, Hunter provided a drawing of the Physical Education
addition, which would expand the school's current gym facility.

Total estimated cost for the classrooms in Option B would be set at
$762.750, with the Physical Education addition estimated at $810,000. Total
estimated cost for both projects has been set at $1.5 million.

"Do you want to tell us why you recommended Option B?"asked board member
Louis Matta.

"There will be some classes where there will be 30 students in the classroom
and the science lab can accommodate two science classes," he said. "The
bigger classrooms will be used when the classes have 30 students."

"Will the old addition be connected?" asked board member Steve Armstrong.

"Yes, it will have an enclosed addition attached," said Hunter.

The Physical Education addition will fit two regulation junior high
basketball/volleyball courts sideways, with pull out bleachers. "With the
pull-out bleachers the courts can be used by the high school and will be
high school regulation," said Hunter.

He told the group that there are also a lot of ways to lay out the science
classrooms. "I can do it 10 different ways, but we would like to receive
input from the staff, before we start," said Hunter.

About 120 more lockers will also be added. "That's why we made the corridors
wider," he said.

Hunter said his recommendation would be to tie down the scope and cost
and meet with the staff to receive their input. "We can then come back
to the board with our recommendations," he said.

Hunter said there are a lot of things that need to be looked at. "When
we come back next month, we can answer more of your questions," he said.
Among those items will be the equipment, kind of science lab and overall
layout.

"We'll be sure to include everyone," he said.

"If we just did the classrooms, what are we talking about in terms of
savings," asked Love.

Hunter stated that the savings probably wouldn't be that much, maybe
five percent.

Love stated that the school auditors would be here Dec. 10 and will
have his audit. "He'll tell us, you can do this, but maybe not the whole
thing, or you could this other," said Love.

"We can work that out also, like get a combined bid, or maybe get a
bid on just the classroms and a separate for the Physical Education addition,"
said Hunter.

Hunter told the group that he could speak to two or three contractors
and get more information from them.

"There are different scenarios that we can look at," he said.

The board approved Option B and the Physical Education addition as presented
with the requirement that all middle school staff be involved in the project.

Board members also approved authorizing the superintendent to act on
behalf of the district to work with the architect on design development
of documents and present to the board at a later date.

"Again, nothing will be done under the table, we'll come to you and
get your approval," said Love.

"Can we get this done before Aug. 1?" asked Love.

"The classrooms are not a problem," said Hunter, who added that his
firm has worked on other projects that have taken bids in January and February
and had not problems getting it done before the start of school.

"We've always been able to get it done with no problems," he said.

Hunter recommended getting bids in January and that will give them six
months to finish the classroom addition.

Proposed staff cuts questioned by teachers

By ROSIE FLORESStaff WriterPECOS, Nov. 19, 1999 - Consolidation is definitely something for the
future for two middle schools in the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD, but some
of the teachers who will be involved had questions about the plan Thursday
night, during the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah school board's special meeting.

The board met to discuss several issues regarding the consolidation
of Zavala Middle School and the Crockett Middle School. If consolidated
all seventh and eighth graders would attend Crockett Middle School, which
would be expanded to the extra junior high students.

Zavala would likely be kept open as a sixth grade school, with either
Lamar Middle School or Pecos Elementary being closed down under the current
consolidation proposal.

Board member Louis Matta, acting as chairperson for the evening, in
the absence of board president Earl Bates, asked for comments from the
audience.

Several junior high teachers were on hand for the special meeting.

Ronny Daniel a Zavala Middle School student told the board that his
main concern was for the students

. "I disagree on the method of financing," said Daniel. "I'm all in
favor of consolidation, but I don't approve of the financing part of it."

He told the board that it seemed that all the personnel cuts would take
place at Zavala. "If we have more students in one class it would have an
impact on the students," said Daniel.

A class with 30 people in it would affect the quality of education and
a 25 percent reduction in staff would increase teacher's duties and the
all the headaches a teacher faces.

"This is totally unrealistic as far as education," said Daniel. "And,
the teacher will still be held accountable for TAAS scores and testing
and things like that.

"I think we'll do 25 percent less of the work towards the student,"
he said. "I realize this is a money situation, but how far do we go."

Daniel questioned the fact that all the personnel cut would be at the
seventh grade school.

Daniel said that if the students realized what that would mean for them,
they would have attended the board meeting.

Pecos High School Teacher Barbara Scown stated that she understood that
they had to do some cuts. "But look at the scheduling or electives," she
said. "Let's keep a positive approach and get the job done."

Texas State Teacher's Association President for the district, Jamie
Crisp, said she supported the comments Daniel had made and passed out a
memo outlining the teacher's and personnel's concerns.

· If up to eight teaching positions are eliminated as has been
proposed in consolidation, class sizes are going to be very large _ possibly
30 + students. When classes are that large, teacher-student interaction
is minimal, and teachers spend too much time controlling the classroom
and handling paperwork.

· Test scores have been rising in the district in recent years,
and teachers are concerned that larger classes could cause reversal in
this gain.

· The district budget has been balanced primarily by cutting
the number of teaching positions. Now that the budget is balanced, why
should we jeopardize student success by cutting the number of teachers
even more?

· In today's society more students come from broken homes than
ever before. In many cases students are a major positive role model and
encourager for these students. If student-teacher ratios go up, teachers
will have less time to give individual attention to students, and student
performance could go down.

· Cafeteria workers are concerned about being reassigned to a
different campus when they would prefer to stay where they are. Please
remember that workers are most productive when they have a say in decision-making.

· When properly implemented site-based decision-making process
can resolve most of these concerns to the benefit of all parties.

"Therefore, as president of TSTA local, I have been asked to strongly
urge you to give close consideration to these factors when consolidating
seventh and eighth grade campuses," Crisp said.

"A report stated recently that we are underutilizing our facilities,
if we are wasting that much space, we need to direct the money that is
for upkeep, towards the classroom and the students," said Matta.

The study showed money is going into the buildings, such as maintenance,
utilities and such, according to Matta.

And in looking at a five-year term, enrollment figures show that they
are on the decline, according to Matta.

"I don't want to cause anybody their job, but we may have to cut where
it bleeds, because enrollment is on the decline," he said.

Matta stated that he can remember talking about consolidation, back
in the 1980's when he had served on the board.

"I disagree with what you're saying, that this is just for seventh and
eighth grades, there will be other campuses affected," said Matta.

Matta stated that he thinks there are ways to compromise, to do it differently.

Clubs briefed on benefits of Main Street program

By SMOKEY BRIGGSStaff WriterPECOS, Nov. 19, 1999 - Members of the Pecos Rotary and Lions clubs
held a joint meeting Thursday to hear ideas about improving the community
through participation in a statewide program.

Genora Young, the director of tourism and also the Main Street program
manager for Fort Stockton, spoke to the groups about that city's Main Street
program and their efforts in economic development and tourism.

"What is going on in our region right now is very exciting," she said.
"Fort Stockton is not a destination for most people. But in West Texas,
geography is out friend. We're on a busy interstate on the way to Big Bend
and Big Bend is a destination spot."

Young said that Fort Stockton's goal has been to offer enough attractions
to hold a leisure traveler for a day or two.

"Over the last ten years we have been more and more successful," she
said.

Young said that it was not until Fort Stockton got involved in the Main
Street program in 1989 that the city began to make real progress in economic
development and in attracting and holding tourists.

The Main Street program is a state program focused on reviving downtown
areas. It is financed both with grants and local tax money.

Young said that the Main Street program with its impetus on economic
development eventually evolves into development of tourism as well.

"Economic development and tourism go hand-in-hand in West Texas," she
said. "They will build on each other and you really can't afford to neglect
either one."

Young said that there was a growing trend in the region to work together
to attract tourists to the region and not just a specific town or area.

"Individually we can't offer enough to bring tourists to Fort Stockton
or Pecos or Alpine, but working together, we can offer a traveler plenty
of attractions to fill several weeks," she said.

She said that the city had experienced good success in offering motor
coach tour companies a one-day excursion in Fort Stockton as part of the
overall tour that usually featured Big Bend.

"What I would like to see is a regional promotion of Beg Bend/West Texas.
We need to do this as a region and I think that it is beginning to happen,"
she said.

"When it does, we will all benefit."

Housing seminar attracts 90 residents

PECOS, Nov. 19, 1999 - More than 90 people showed up for a seminar addressing
housing options for low-income families Thursday night at the Reeves County
Civic Center. The Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Pecos City sponsored
the seminar.

A Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) representative
spoke about the HOME program that offers loans and grants to low-income
people, said Jesse Stephens, a director with the Chamber of Commerce who
helped organize the meeting.

"Pecos City is now trying to obtain a grant for $240,000 to apply to
Pecos housing needs," Stephens said.

The TDHCA representative also explained the Housing Trust Fund that
offers loans and grants administered through local governments, housing
authorities and not-for-profit organizations. Also on the agenda was the
Community Block Grant program for cities and counties to develop sanitary
sewer systems, clean drinking water, housing and other needs.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture representative explained how to qualify
for, and whom to contact, concerning the department's single family housing,
home improvement grants, direct loans and guaranteed loan programs, Stephens
said.

Stephens also reported that HUD discussed the 203(K) program that offers
help in buying, renovating, and even adding on to a home.

This program is not a grant program, Stephens said. Instead, the government
simply helps people obtain a loan for the project from financial institutions.

"This was a great start," Chamber president Linda Gholson said. "We
have a lot of work to do, but we had a great turnout tonight and learned
a lot from the different programs."

RCDC review on county agenda

PECOS, Nov. 19, 1999 - Management of America performance review of the
Reeves County Detention Center's operation will be the topic of discussion
at Monday morning's regular Reeves County Commissioners Court meeting.

The meeting is scheduled for 9:30 a.m., on the third floor of the Reeves
County Courthouse. The public is welcome to attend.

The court will discuss and approve bond and oath for Patricia Tarin,
Connie Lozano and Yvonne Abila. Personnel and salary changes (RCDC, JDC,
recreation department, road and bridge department, sheriff's office and
the tax office) also are on the agenda.

Obituary

James Rex Leigh

James Rex Leigh, 74, of Pecos, died Tuesday, Nov. 16, 1999, at his residence.

Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 20, at Chaparral
Village Memorial Park with Matt Williamson officiating.

He was born June 15, 1925, in Ranger, was a U.S. Navy Veteran of World
War II, had lived in Pecos since 1959 and was a retired seismograph worker.

He was preceded in death by one son, Robert "Bobby" Dewayne Leigh.

Survivors include his wife, Eva Leigh of Pecos; one son, Ronald Leigh
of Toyah; three daughters, Terresa Clary of Chireno, Jeannie Teichman of
Cushing and Vera William of Kermit; 12 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren
and numerous nieces and nephews.